Browsing plants: succulent

The term succulent is a description of a type of plant that has adapted to dry conditions by developing the ability to store and conserve water in thick leaves and stems. Some have small or nonexistent leaves, and may also have a hairy or waxy surface to reduce water loss, pores that open at night and close during the day, and spines to protect the plant from predators searching for water.

Succulents are ideal plants for the busy gardener. Most are easy to grow, with few disease or insect problems, and tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soils. As houseplants, they are well adapted to the warmth and low humidity of the average home. Many are slow growing and will stay in the same pot for years. Potted plants can be moved outdoors in the summer, and many, including a few varieties of cactus and sedum, are winter hardy in our area.

Succulents are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, and some have spectacular, if sometimes short-lived, flowers. They offer something dramatic, different, and low-maintenance.